BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2543
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
Cristina Garcia, Chair
AB 2543
(Gordon) - As Introduced February 19, 2016
SUBJECT: State buildings: efficiency
SUMMARY: Assigns primary responsibility for developing a
multi-year energy efficiency plan for state facilities to the
California Energy Commission (CEC), instead of the Department of
General Services (DGS), and expands the scope of the plan to
include water conservation. Specifically, this bill:
1)Revises the existing requirement to develop a multi-year
energy efficiency plan to give the CEC lead responsibility,
instead of DGS, and requires the CEC to solicit input from
both public and private entities when developing the plan.
2)Adds water conservation measures to the scope of the plan.
3)Specifies that the plan shall not prohibit, limit, or
supersede more stringent green building requirements for
public buildings.
4)Excludes state-leased buildings from the plan, except those
financed through lease-revenue bonds.
5)Requires DGS to consult with the CEC when making
recommendations to improve energy and water efficiency in
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state facilities and submit a related report to the Governor
and Legislature by January 1, 2018.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires DGS, in consultation with the CEC, to develop a
multi-year plan, to be updated biennially, with the goal of
exploiting all practicable and cost-effective energy
efficiency measures in state facilities.
2)Directs DGS to coordinate plan implementation efforts and make
biennial recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to
achieve energy efficiency goals for state facilities.
3)Requires DGS to include all of the following in its biennial
report for projects under its jurisdiction:
a) Progress made toward implementing energy efficiency
measures in state facilities;
b) The most common energy efficiency measures being
implemented;
c) Obstacles preventing further implementation of energy
efficiency measures; and,
d) How current efforts and ideas can be incorporated into
the Governor's five-year infrastructure plan.
4)Requires all new state buildings, as well as existing
buildings when renovated or remodeled, to meet energy
efficiency standards adopted by the CEC, and requires DGS or
other responsible state agencies to consider additional energy
efficiency measures that are cost-effective and feasible.
5)Requires the state to take specified green building actions,
as described in the Green Building Action Plan (GBAP),
including aggressively reducing state building electricity
usage by 20% by 2015; and siting, constructing, and operating
all new and renovated state-owned facilities as Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or higher
-certified buildings.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: According to the author, this bill "seeks to create a
stronger investigative partnership between the CEC and DGS in
order to identify potential measures for greater energy and
water efficiency in state buildings." This bill would give the
CEC a greater role in ensuring that the state is doing as much
as possible to reduce energy and water consumption.
Currently, DGS is the state's lead agency in the greening of
government. Among other green responsibilities, it develops the
statutorily-required multi-year energy efficiency plan for state
buildings and provides a biennial report to the Governor and
Legislature that contains specific information on energy
efficiency projects in its jurisdiction. This bill would
instead shift primary responsibility for the plan to the CEC and
include water conservation measures in the scope of the plan.
In its most recent March 2013 biennial progress report to the
Legislature, DGS notes that "despite a lack of available funding
specifically designated for energy efficiency projects, DGS
continues to lead the state's efforts to meet the energy
efficiency standards defined in greater detail in the GBAP."
Standards outlined in the GBAP include, among other things, the
following: greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, on-site
renewable energy goals, water efficiency and conservation,
building design and construction, building commissioning,
existing buildings, indoor environmental quality, electric
vehicle charging stations, and environmentally preferable
purchasing.
While it does not have a formal position on this bill, the CEC
has raised concerns about its lack of staff resources to devote
to the lead effort required in this bill and has indicated that
it would not consider itself an expert in developing operational
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water conservation plans or overall strategies to conserve water
in state-owned buildings.
DOUBLE REFERRAL: This bill has been double referred. It was
previously heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on
April 4, 2016, and passed with a vote of 9-0.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Municipal Utilities Association
City of Sacramento
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Cassie Royce / A. & A.R. / (916) 319-3600
AB 2543
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